Egypt bans export of palm fronds ahead of Jewish holiday of Sukkot

[scandal 951]

Now that's just too much! Evacuate the Israeli embassy in Cairo, fine. But refuse to sell us Lulavim for Sukkot?? That's outrageous.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/egypt-bans-export-of-palm-fronds-ahead-of-jewish-holiday-of-sukkot-1.385247

Egypt bans export of palm fronds ahead of Jewish holiday of Sukkot

Agriculture Ministry to issue special licenses allowing import of lulavs from Spain, Jordan and the Gaza Strip, so that no major shortage is experienced in the run-up to the holiday.

By Amiram Cohen

Egypt has barred the export of palm fronds - used ceremonially in the upcoming Sukkot holiday - to Israel and to Jewish communities abroad, the Agriculture Ministry has learned.

The move by the Egyptian government comes just weeks before the fall holiday when the lulavs are in demand. In the past, Israel has imported about 700,000 palm fronds a year prior to Sukkot, representing about 40 percent of the total demand for them every year here.

Boy with Lulav - Nir Keidar - 19092011

In addition, about 700,000 of the 2 million lulavs purchased in Jewish communities in the Diaspora, primarily in North America and Europe, normally come from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian Agriculture Ministry said the ban would be in effect until the end of 2011.

Israel's Agriculture Ministry will issue special licenses to allow the import of lulavs from Spain, Jordan and the Gaza Strip, so that no major shortage is experienced in the run-up to the holiday. The ministry will require that palm fronds coming into the country be inspected to prevent the spread of plant disease.

Israel's Agriculture Minister Orit Noked said her ministry would also work to supply the Israeli public with lulavs at a fair price by encouraging domestic date farmers to greatly boost their supply.

Date growers here said they have no intention of hiking prices beyond the labor costs they incur. Last year, regular lulavs sold for about NIS 100 each.

Israeli growers are expected to supply about 650,000 lulavs to the Israeli public in addition to another 200,000 special lulavs for the ultra-Orthodox community here.

[luckytxn 2,264]

A palm frond embargo?

Oh the humanity.

[scandal 951]

A palm frond embargo?

Oh the humanity.

EXACTLY!! Now we need to import them from Gaza

[luckytxn 2,264]

EXACTLY!! Now we need to import them from Gaza

OMG. The inhumanity.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

EXACTLY!! Now we need to import them from Gaza

Why not from Thailand or Kerala?

[slim 1,530]

Time for some UN action.

In all seriousness, isn't this cutting off your nose to spite your face? Why would a country going through economic troubles stop sales of anything?

[mawilson 2,133]

Why would a country going through economic troubles stop sales of anything?

Because they are intolerant vengeful cunts.

[slim 1,530]

Because they are intolerant vengeful cunts.

Well, that about sums it up.

[Nagishkaw 510]

isn't this cutting off your nose to spite your face?

Yes. It's called tradition.

Why not from Thailand or Kerala?

Because China will beat them to it and manufacture/export plastic ones. They may be cheap, but they are functional.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Sounds like a palm fronds flotilla is in order for the palm frond deprived.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

LOL. Israel was banning the farmers of Gaza from being able to export their crops such as fresh flowers and strawberries, forcing millions of tons of produce to just sit at the border, rotting in the trucks... but the palm fronds - well hey that's an entirely different matter !

[scandal 951]

Because China will beat them to it and manufacture/export plastic ones. They may be cheap, but they are functional.

That's a neat idea, but unfortunately it wouldn't be kosher.

You need the arbaah minim - four species to make the bracha. Plastic won't cut it.